Product Description

In 1993, Francois Place's "The Last Giants" was universally acclaimed a work of great, if heartbreaking, originality. In this recent effort, he brings to life the immortal Japanese illustrator and printmaker Hokusai. And just as he made real the "land of the giants," so he brings the reader into the swirling and vibrant world of Tokyo. Trained early as an engraver, Hokusai studied under the master Sunsho, producing illustrated volumes of verse. His first manga volume followed in 1814, after he abandoned the traditional style of engraving to perfect the technique of the colored woodcut, in what many consider his greatest work, "The 36 Views of Mt Fuji". His life was unsettled, his marriages uncertain, and his business affairs irregular, but his energy was boundless. He left for posterity thousands of sketches and drawings, illustrated books and prints, saying - just before he died in 1889 - "If heaven gives me ten more years (or even an extension of five), I shall certainly become a true artist." The exuberance of his life is marvelously conveyed in Place's tribute to an artist who clearly ranks among his heroes. Both have the same genius for draughtsmanship, the perfectly defined, energetic stroke, the subtle wash. We see the humour & pathos of Hokusai's life, recorded through the eyes of a young apprentice. This is a lovely book by an artist and writer we consider among the very best of his generation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #414470 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 112 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-Tojiro, a nine-year-old orphan, sells rice cakes on the streets of 19th-century Edo, the bustling city we now call Tokyo. One of his customers is the grumpy, eccentric octogenarian Hokusai. The old man takes a liking to Tojiro, and soon employs him as his assistant. The boy's ignorance provides a convenient vehicle for introducing the artist's life and work. Much of the dialogue and action is too obviously written for the purpose of conveying information about Hokusai, as well as the technique of woodblock printing and the social customs of Edo. The book's greatest strength is not the text, but the art that enlivens every page. A combination of the author's watercolors and reproductions of Hokusai's drawings and woodblock prints, the illustrations are arranged in enticing and varied page designs. Place's detailed paintings, clearly influenced by Hokusai, but with a life that is all their own, depict the action of the story. The reproductions allow readers to discover the artist's masterpieces along with Tojiro, and wonder how much his sketchbooks, called manga, have influenced modern Japanese cartoons. Schools where Japan is studied will want this very handsome small volume, as will public libraries where there is an interest in Japanese art.
Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Gr. 5-8. In nineteenth century Edo, nine-year-old Tojiro delivers rice cakes on a route that includes a strange old man who draws. Gradually Tojiro befriends the artist Hokusai and becomes his assistant. Under his tutelage, Tojiro discovers the process of woodblock engraving, studies Hokusai's earlier art, and prompts the old man's memories. Although the rapport of the master and apprentice is a vehicle to introduce Hokusai's art and times, the tender relationship is credibly drawn with humor and insight. Exquisitely detailed ink and watercolor illustrations embellish every page. Sometimes the elegant sketches edge the page; sometimes they fill and spill over pages. Some portray busy city scenes and handsome landscapes; others feature a single expressive figure or image. Good reproductions of Hokusai's drawings appear as they are introduced in the narrative. An illustrated glossary is attached, but most unfamiliar terms are easily understood in context. An excellent curriculum supplement, this will enchant and inspire aspiring artists and transport even casual browsers to nineteenth-century Japan. Linda Perkins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

Delightful in Words and Pictures
As a librarian I see many, many books and this is a definite favorite. The simple story of the great Ukiyoe master, Hokusai, and his young apprentice, Tojiro, is told with humor and feeling. Along the way, there are lessons about being young and old, about persistence and talent. Many of the stories about Hokusai and his artwork are based on fact, such as his most famous Great Wave of Kanagawa from the collection Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji and his "thought-up drawings" in Hokusai Manga. As wonderful as the story is, the illustrations may be the very best part of this book. Francois Place's paintings are a story in themselves. The illustrations are colorful, well executed, with a subtle oriental flavor. Interspersed with Hokusai's own woodblock prints, they appeal to adults and children who love art, Japan, or just a warm and heartfelt story. I recommend Old Man Mad About Drawing to children, parents, and anyone who loves interesting stories blended with captivating art.